Did you know...it's easy to make your home asthma friendly?

Are dust bunnies hopping all over your apartment? Do you live with someone who has asthma? Dust and dust mites (microscopic insects that live in dust) are well-known asthma triggers. Try these simple steps to get rid of dust and make your home more asthma-friendly:

Wipe a wet rag or mop to remove the dust in your home.

Do not leave your dusty rag or mop out to dry. It will cause dust to fly back into the air making it difficult to breathe, especially for people with asthma.

HEPA filtration vacuums and air filters will help reduce the amount of dust in the air. When you buy a vacuum or air filter, look on the box to make sure it says HEPA on it.

Clean dusty plants by running a wet rag over their leaves. You'll notice that the leaves will be more colorful without dust getting in the way of the sunlight.

If your home has a furry friend, make sure to bathe and dry his or her paws on a regular basis. You can also buy a special brush for removing the undercoat of your pet. This will brush out loose hairs before they reach your floor. These brushes don't cost much and can be found at your local pet store.

Did you know? is a series of health articles written by HHPC and approved by our Health Advisory Board.